Locking mechanism for removable containers



Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,356

B. F. FITCH LOCKING MECHANISM FOR REMOVABLE CONTAINERS Original Fil ed Aug. 2, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 'F'IGH Z gwuvntoz Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,356

B. F. FITCH LOCKING MECHANISM FOR REMOVABLE CONTAINERS Original Filed Aug. 2, 1926 4 Sheds-Sheet 2 l v I 5 5 2o 222 I5 W M-ss 55 I \I 30 i so Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,356

B. F. FITCH LOCKING MECHANISM FOR REMOVABLE CONTAINERS Original Filed Aug. 2, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG-"6 Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685;356

B. F. FITCH LOCKING MECHANISM FOR REMOVABLE CONTAINERS Original Filed Aug. 2, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 10+ FILL-9 -2|Q T ier IO Patented Sept. 25, 1928. I

UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

vBIENJ'AMILTB'I' F. FITCH, OE GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO MOTOR TERMINALS COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR REMOVABLE CONTAINERS.

Application filed August 2, 1926, Serial No. 126,612. Renewed December 24, 1927.

This invention relates to apparatus for handling freight by the use of removable automobile bodies and more particularly to means for insuring a locking of the container doors when the containers are deposited either on a motor truck or on a railway car. The principal object of the invention is to obtain a locking device which prevents open ing of the container doors so long as the container is placed upon a truck or car platform. By eliminating the possibility of opening the doors without lifting the containers from the supporting device, 1 can minimize surreptitious opening of the containers.

A further object is to make a locking device which is automatic in operation, so as to eliminate the necessity for attention on the part of the inspectors or truck drivers after the doors have been closed. This reduces 2 the risk of loss by theft, while the container is in transport, to a minimum, since the weight of the loaded container necessitates the use of an overhead crane as well as special load engaging equipment in order to raise the container from the car or truck frames.

A still further object is to make a locking device which may be incorporated in the body of the container, and which will operate without modifying the present form of truck or car construction. Moreover, I contemplate a locking device which is concealed beneath or within the container housing and therefore is inaccessible to any one so long as the container is in the proper position upon the transporting device.

In addition to the above objects my invention is directed toward the provision of means which may be used in conjunction wit-h a door locking bolt, and which will function to draw the bolt to locking position after the door has been closed. This feature insures a satisfactory locking of the door so long as the same is closed. In the preferred form, the bolt locking feature is automatic in operation, and is designed to be actuated whenever the container is deposited upon a predetermined form of support.

The apparatus for carrying out my invention is illustrated in the drawings wherein 5 Fig. 1v is a side elevation of a motor truck which is shown as standing beneath the crane runway;Fig. 2 is an end view of a suspended container and truck shown in Fig. 1; 3 is a section through the container taken on a plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections taken through the container on planes indicated by the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a detailed view on an enlarged scale showing my locking device in connection with the container; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a railway car having two containers positioned thereon; Figs. 8 and 9 are sections through a container showing a modified form of locking head crane indicated in general at 13. The

container is also illustrated as having doors 14 in the ends only and as having a floor (Fig. 3) 15 which is positioned above the bottom of the container by an amount equal to the depth of the joists 16. These joists in the I preferred form are webbed beams and have suflicient depth to support the desired load. In practice this depth is sufficiently great that I may construct a door locking device within planes which define the top and bottom surfaces thereof.

The doors are illustrated as being hinged at 17 to the container, but if desired they may be so made that they may be removed from the container in the usual way. Two vertically extending bolts 20 and 21 are shown as being carried on one of the door sections, and as being adapted to extend beyond the upper and lower edges of the associated door section and to engage behind parts of the frame for. holding the doors in place. In the preferred form of construction these bolts are pivotally connected, as at 22 and 23, respec-i tively to a member 24 which is rigidly mounted upon a shaft 25. This shaft, as illustrated in Fig. 4, extends through the door section and has a hinged latch member 26 rigidly mounted thereon at the outer end thereof. The latch whenswung about the axisof the shaft will rotate the member 24 and thereby will move the bolts with relation to the door.

A keeper 27 may be used for holding the latch in closed position until the container is placed upon a truck or car.

While the bolts are being moved to the locked position, the upper bolt 20 passes behind a frame beam 28, while the lower bolt 21 passes through an opening in the door sill 29. My invention is concerned with automatic means for holding the bolts in such po sition under certain conditions such as when the container is deposited upon a car or truck frame, and to this end I have shown laterally shiftable members 30 which are mounted within the door sill beam, and normally are urged by springs 31 out of engagement with the bolt 21, but are adapted to be brought into engagement with the bolt for locking it against opening movement, even though an attempt is made to open the bolts by turning the latch 26.

The means for urging each member 30 into locking position may embodya plate 35 which is hinged at 36 to the lower outer edge of the container, and which is arranged to move the associated member 30 inwardly against the tension of the spring 31, whenever a container is lowered sufliciently to bring the plates 35 within the brackets 11 upon the truck frame or into engagement with the floor blocks 40 upon a car floor 41. These brackets and blocks function therefore, not only to actuate the locking devices, but also to hold the containers in proper position.

By mounting the members 30 beneath the floor and within the upper and lower confines of the sill 29, I make the members inaccessible so long as the containers are upon the truck or car floor. Moreover, by placing the bolts and 21 inside the door, I can still prevent opening of the door, even though the latch 26. and the associated shaft are broken by an unauthorized person.

In Figs. 4 and 6 each member is shown as having a forked end 37 for engaging a fiat portion 38 on the bolt 21 beneath the top of the door sill. Each member 30 is also indicated as being slidably mounted in guides 39 and 42 so as to insure straight line movement during the locking operation. Normally thesprings 31 urge the members 30 to the position shown in Fig. 3 when the container is suspended or is placed upon a platform. While in this position, the latch 26 may be actuated to unlock the bolt and open the doors. While the container is being lowered onto a truck or car floor, however, the corner brackets or blocks will engage the hinge bolts and force them inwardly against the sides of the body, which in turn will force the members 30 against the tension of the springs 31 into engagement with the bolt 21. By utilizing a shiftable member 30 on each side of the bolt, I increase the effective holding power and insure a. locking action, even though there may be substantial clearance between the sides of the body and the corner brackets on the truck or car floor. Moreover, I insure an automatic locking of the doors without necessitating any attention on the part of the 1 operator other than that of closing the doors and turning the bolt actuating latch.

A modified form of lock construction is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 wherein the bolt 21* instead of having the notched portion 38 as shown in Fig. 4 has a recessed portion 45 near the bottom end thereof, and the members 30 instead of being forked to engage the bolt, are pivotally connected as at 46 to a cam plate 47, which in turn is pivotally mounted at 48 to a block 49 beneath the container floor. This cam plate has an inwardly turned flange 50 along part of the marginal edges, which flanged portion is arranged to extend through openings 51 and 52 on the sill and bottom of the door section upon which the bolt is mounted. Moreover, the shape of the cam plate is such that normally the the springs 31 hold it in the position shown in Fig. 8, but whenever the plate 35 is swung upwardly as upon engagement with a bracket, the cam plate will be swung about the pivot to the position shown in Fig. 9. Duringsuch .movemcnt the nose 55 of the flange will rise above the openings 51 and 52 and enter the recess 45 in the bolt. If therefore, the doors had been closed, but the latch 26 had not been actuated to move the bolt 21 downwardly, then the flange on the cam plate would engage the lower shoulder 56- formed by the recess 45 in the bolt and thereby draw the bolt downwardly to the locking position. On the other hand if the bolt had been moved to locking position, then the flange would merely enter the recess and continue therethrough until the plates 35 would be brought into engagement with the sides of the container.

This modified construction, then functions not only to hold the bolt in locked position, but also serves to actuate the bolt in the event of failure by an operator to turnthe latch after the doors have been closed. This minimines the possibility of the occurrence of theft while the container is in transit. Moreover, a device embodying my invention may be readily attached to existing containers and be operated automatically during the loading of the container onto the transportation vehicle, without necessitating special equipment upon the truck or car floor.

I claim 1. In combination, a container having a,

a predetermined form of supporting surface.

2. In combination, acontalner having a door therein and means associatedwith the container and movable with reference thereto for automatically locking the door, whenever the container is deposited upon a predetermined form of supporting surface.

3. In combination, a container having a door therein, a locking bolt associated with the door and means for automatically moving the bolt to locked position, whenever the container is deposited upon one form ofsupportmg surface, and for automatically releasing the bolt wheneventhe container is raised a predetermined distance from said supporting.

a from said support.

door therein, a sup .door to the container,

5. In combination with a container having a door sill and a door associated therewith, and means within the sill and movable with reference to the container for locking the door whenever the container is deposited upon a predetermined form of support.

6. In combination, a container, 2. supporting surface therefor. having an upwardly extending portion, a door within the container, and means carried by the container and movable with reference thereto for locking the said means being concealed behind said upwardly extending portion when the container is deposited on said supporting surface.

7. In combination, a container embodying a removable automobile body having a door therein, a container support, and means movable with reference to the container and adapted to be automatically actuated whenever the container is deposited upon said support for locking the door in closed position.

8. In combination, a container embodying a removable automobile body having a door therein, a support for said container, and mechanism carried by the container and actuated by contact with the support for locking the door in closed position, whenever the container is deposited upon said su port.

9. In combination, a container aving a door therein, a support for said container and mechanism carried by the container and actuated automatically by contact with the support for locking when the container is deposited upon said support, said mechanism being automaticah ly released to permit opening of the door whenever the container is raised a predetermined amount from said support.

10. In combination, a container having a ort for said container and a member carried y and adapted to project beyond the wall of the container, said member being arranged to be moved with reference to the container to lock the door in. closed position, and said member being rendered inaccessible by part of said support for unlocking movement so long as the container is positioned on saidsupport.

the d0OI.1Il closed position- 11. In combination, a container having a door therein, a support, a member hinged to the container adjacent the support and adapted to be swung about the hinged connection whenever the container is deposited upon or removed from the support, and mechanism actuated by movement of said member for locking or unlocking the door of said container.

12. In combination, a container having a door therein, means beneath the floor of the container for holding the door in locked position, said means being automatically operable for locking thedoor whenever the container is deposited upon a predetermined form of supporting surface.

13. In combination, a container having a door therein, a supporting door bolt, and means for automatically moving the bolt to locked position whenever the container is deposited upon said supporting surface.

14. In combination, a container having a door therein, a door bolt, means outside the container for manually moving the bolt to locked position, and mechanism operable independently of said means for automatically moving the bolt to locked position in the event of failure to lock the bolt manually.

15. In combination, a container having a door therein, and having a floor disposed above the bottom thereof, and means concealed'beneath the floor and having an operating member associated therewith, -but projecting beyond the container for locking the door.

16. In combination, a container having a dooi' therein, a container support, and mechanism mounted within said container and having a portion thereof projecting beyond the container, said projecting portion being adapted to engage the support to effect automatic locking of the door while the container is bein deposited upon said support.

17.1% combination, a container having a door therein, a member carried by the container beneath the door, and another member hinged to the container, a spring associated with one of said members, and a container support, said support being adapted to move the hinged member against the tension of said spring for locking the door to the container whenever the container is deposited upon said support.

18. In com ination, a contalner having a door therein and a member ivotally mounted on the container within the bottom thereof, a container support, said support being adapted to swing the member about said pivotal connection, and means actuated by movement of said member for locking the door.

19. In combination, a container, a support therefor having an upwardly extending portion, a member mounted within the contalner and adapted to project beyond one wall thereof, said member being movable to substantially a flush position with the wall for looking the door to the container and being concealed behind the upright portion when the container is deposited upon said support.

20. In combination, a container having a door therein, a support having brackets for positioning the container thereon, and means within the container for locking the door thereto, said means including a member adapted to project beyond one wall of the container during the unlocked position, and

to be substantially flush with the wall of the container during the locked position, and said member being concealed behind one of said brackets when the container is positioned on said support.

21. In combination, a-removable automobile body having a door therein, a transportation vehicle having four spaced brackets, adapted to receive and position the container on the vehicle, and a door locking device for said container, said device including a member adjacent one corner of the container, the member being disposed behind one of said brackets while the container is positioned on the vehicle, whereby the locking device is normally inaccessible solong as the container is positioned on the vehicle.

22. In combination, a removable automobile body, a door in one wall thereof, a member shiftable with relation to the container and mounted beneath the door opening, a transportation vehicle having an upstanding portion associated therewith for positioning the body thereon, and a second member pivotally mounted on the container and cooperating with the first mentioned member to effect locking and unlocking of said door, the second named member being automatically moved to locking position by contact with said upstanding portion, whenever the container is deposited on said vehicle, and being automatically released whenever the container is raised a predetermined distance above said vehicle.

23. In combination, a removable automobile body having a door therein, a door looking bolt, 2, pair of horizontally disposed members mounted within the container beneath the door openmg, said members being arranged to move in opposite directions and to hold the bolt in locked position and said container having means on the outer side thereof for automatically moving said members simultaneously and in opposite direc-v bile body having a door therein, a cam rotatably mounted beneath the doorway of said container, hinged members disposed on opposite sides of the containers near the bottom thereof, a container support and means operatively c'onnectingthe cam with said members, whereby the cam is actuated whenever said members engage part of said support, said cam being arranged to lock the door when rotated in one direction with reference to the container.

26. In combination, a removable automobile body having a door therein and having a floor above the bottom thereof, a cam rotatably mounted on the container beneath said floor, a locking bolt associated with the door, said bolt having a shoulder adapted to be engaged by the cam for holding the door in locked position, laterally shiftable members beneath the floor and operatively connected with said cam, and other members pivotally mounted on opposite walls of the container and cooperating with the first mentioned members to rotate the cam, and thereby to effect locking of the door, said last mentioned members being automatically actuated whenever the container is deposited upon. said suport.

1 In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

BENJAMIN F. FITCH. 

